South Carolina head coach and USA Basketball selection committee member Dawn Staley expressed that Caitlin Clark’s recent performance has bolstered her case for inclusion in the Olympic team. Clark, a standout rookie in the WNBA, was the most notable omission from the women’s team, as announced on June 11.
“As a committee member, you’re charged with putting together the best team of players, the best talent,” Staley said during an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico. “Caitlin is just a rookie in the WNBA, wasn’t playing bad, but wasn’t playing like she’s playing now. If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people”, told Daily Mail.
Staley highlighted Clark’s impressive skills, stating, “Shooting the ball extremely well, I mean she is an elite passer, she’s just got a great basketball IQ and she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game in a couple of months than she was two months ago.”
The women’s team for the Paris Olympics is stacked with WNBA and USA Basketball veterans, including Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, and A’Ja Wilson. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who played 3×3 basketball in Tokyo, are also part of the team.
At the time of the team’s announcement, Clark was still adjusting to her rookie season in the WNBA. After a stellar career at Iowa, Clark was the No. 1 draft pick by the Indiana Fever and quickly assumed a significant role. However, her early performance showed some growing pains. In nine games in May, Clark shot just 38% from the field.
Clark’s form improved significantly in June and July. In six games in July before the WNBA’s Olympic break, she shot 43% from the field, despite a lower 27% from the three-point line. Her assists also increased substantially, averaging 12.5 per game in July compared to seven assists per game in the first two months of the season.
While Clark missed out on this Olympic opportunity, her future with USA Basketball looks promising given her current trajectory. There is also an argument that a break from competitive basketball might be beneficial for her. Clark’s first regular-season WNBA game on May 14 came just over a month after her final game with Iowa on April 7 in the national title game.
Staley’s comments underscore the evolving nature of team selection and the impact of recent performances. Clark’s rapid development in the WNBA suggests that her Olympic dream is far from over, with plenty of future opportunities likely on the horizon.